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I have spent the last 2 hours reading different threads about which amp to buy with bower and wilkins speakers... many have been about the 600 series but few about the CM series.

I just blew all my money on the Bowers and Wilkins CM5 after hearing them at best buy and getting a nice discount from a friend who works there. Now I am looking for either a receiver or amp to power them.

I just need something cheap thats of decent quality to drive them for a few months until I can drop more money on something better. My budget is $200-$350USD (yes, that is really all I have... I am a really broke college student in love with audio gear)

My question is, can I get away with using my dads receiver (Yamaha A810) or is there any amps that I can get for around $200-$350 that can last me for a few months until I have more money? This will be mainly for 2 channel audio for music. I appreciate any input!

I didn't want to post this as I feel these threads are getting repetitive, but I really need help and I feel like I did my research. Thanks.

That is good to know. I work at Fry's Electronics and we currently have that Yamaha you posted for $188 + tax if anyone else is interested. How do you feel about the HK 3490 Receiver vs the yamaha a810?

That is good to know. I work at Fry's Electronics and we currently have that Yamaha you posted for $188 + tax if anyone else is interested. How do you feel about the HK 3490 Receiver vs the yamaha a810?

The HK 3490 is surely a more powerful reciever. A good choice you could live with for a while. I'd tend to go the AVR route as I'm a fan of automatic room correction. But if you're careful with speaker placement and room treatments the HK would be good as well.

The HK 3490 is surely a more powerful receiver. A good choice you could live with for a while. I'd tend to go the AVR route as I'm a fan of automatic room correction. But if you're careful with speaker placement and room treatments the HK would be good as well.

Yamaha 373:

Rated Output Power (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.9 % THD, 1 ch driven): 100 W/ch

Rated Output Power (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.9 % THD, 2 ch driven): 85 W/ch

Dynamic Power/Ch (Front L/R, 8/6/4/2 ohms) 110/130/160/180 W

HK 3490

Power @ 8 Ohms, <0.07% THD120 x 2

Power @ 4 Ohms, <0.2% THD150 x 2

The facts bear you out - the 3490 is the more powerful receiver into 8 and 4 ohm loads. It seems to lack a specification for 2 ohms.

The 3490 is also one of the AVRs from HK's era of "high current" receivers which I would consider to be clear backing for the difference in specs.

Since the two are not specified in ways that can be compared closely, I would estimate that the 373 is an 80 wpc @ 0.07% THD device. So the 373 puts out about 40 watts less, 120 versus 80 watts trying to estimate an apples-to-apples comparison. The difference amounts to being less than 2 dB which in a side-by-side comparison would be just about audible under ideal conditions.

Thank you everyone who has posted, all the information was very helpful and left me with something to ponder about. Commsyman I will PM you about the NAD amp. If any one has anymore recommendations please don't hesitate to add to the thread.

The Yamaha would be my pick if I had a sub to run in that 2 channel setup. The HK has no bass management - the Yamaha has YPAO room correction that will equalize the sub (I think!) and speakers. The differences in power for 2 channel aren't meaningful - as Arny outlined above. IMO room correction is no less important in 2 channel than it is for multi-channel.

AFAIK, the last two AVRs mentioned in the thread are the 373 and the 3490.

If you wanted to be a little helpful and positive for a change, you could at least clarify what you think the more relevant comparison is.

Since coming up with specs is within just about anybody's span of technology you should include that as well.

But only if you want to be relevant and helpful... ;-)

Your post was both irrelevant and unhelpful. You went through the trouble to come back with a post to try to make me look bad but obviously still didn't bother to read such a short thread to see why your post was irrelevant. I shouldn't have to retype someone elses post that is directly above yours to clarify the comparison.

The Yamaha would be my pick if I had a sub to run in that 2 channel setup. The HK has no bass management - the Yamaha has YPAO room correction that will equalize the sub (I think!) and speakers. The differences in power for 2 channel aren't meaningful - as Arny outlined above. IMO room correction is no less important in 2 channel than it is for multi-channel.

Decided to try out commys NAD C325BEE amp.. I don't really need all of the features an AVR offers besides HDMI in/out.. but I guess I will find a way to make it for now until I can afford something nicer... I hardly use my TV anyways. Thanks for all the suggestions! Anyone have a recommendation of a good budget preamp? I saw a marantz av 8003 on my local craigslist for $500... seems like a good deal. Should I hop on that? Or is there any others?

Anyone else have any other recommendations for an amp/preamp/integrated combo? Maybe something in the $300-$1000 range? I am not interested in getting an AVR, as I will only be using 2 channel audio for my turntable.

That's a pretty big range. So you're set on not getting an AVR? An AVR will do what you need to do for cheaper and all you have to do is add a phono preamp from phonopreamps.com for $43. I've listed some other 2-channel (2.1 or 2.0) options below.

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I may look into the outlaw. I like the way marantz units look, but ive read that they don't sound the best with my cm5s. People on the forums convinced me to look into rotel but im having a hard time finding used units, i know places that sell them new but i would rather find a better used unit. I could always go NAD too..

I was just wondering if there are some other different options people prefer. I would rather have seperates but i guess i can live with an integrated if its not a real decrease in quality.

I also need a phono amp, unless i can find a nice unit which has a phono.

I like the way marantz units look, but ive read that they don't sound the best with my cm5s.

Not really sure where you read that. I think Marantz and B&W go well together. I'm currently using a Marantz 1602 AVR with some CM5s in a smaller room and IMHO it sounds fantastic. BTW, the 1602 can be had for $300 where still available. Also, many of the integrateds I mentioned have built-in phono connections.

Not really sure where you read that. I think Marantz and B&W go well together. I'm currently using a Marantz 1602 AVR with some CM5s in a smaller room and IMHO it sounds fantastic. BTW, the 1602 can be had for $300 where still available. Also, many of the integrateds I mentioned have built-in phono connections.

I've read many threads of people recommending rotel over marantz. I really like the PM6004, and it fits my budget. How do you feel about the PM6004?

Not really sure where you read that. I think Marantz and B&W go well together. I'm currently using a Marantz 1602 AVR with some CM5s in a smaller room and IMHO it sounds fantastic. BTW, the 1602 can be had for $300 where still available. Also, many of the integrateds I mentioned have built-in phono connections.

I've read many threads of people recommending rotel over marantz. I really like the PM6004, and it fits my budget. How do you feel about the PM6004?

These speakers are in trouble as quality reproducers below 70 Hz, and need to be crossed over at 110 Hz if they are anchoring a high quality system.

I can't tell whether you ever want to go there. Maybe this is a bedroom, kitchen office, or workshop system and not the main system of your life. So depending on your goals, there may be a subwoofer in your future. If that is true, then the AVR solution is probably the best solution for you.

Thanks for the schooling arnyk. This is going to be my main setup in my bedroom as I live at home still with my parents. I am a college student trying to build an "audiophile" stereo setup. I picked up the CM5's because I got a great price on them with a bestbuy employee discount (I paid around $850 for them). What do you recommend in terms of a good AVR and subwoofer to go with these speakers? I want something that can eventually handle some higher end speakers. I have a budget at around $1000-1500 max for both the sub/avr. I will mainly be using this system for listening to hiphop/alternative/rock through a turntable (Rega RP3 I hope to pickup soon) and a macbook pro (I believe I would need a DAC, to get the best audio quality).

Thanks for the personalized help, I hope this thread will be useful to anyone else that is in my situation. I have spent hour reading through many recommendation threads but I am still left a little bit confused.

These speakers are in trouble as quality reproducers below 70 Hz, and need to be crossed over at 110 Hz if they are anchoring a high quality system.

I can't tell whether you ever want to go there. Maybe this is a bedroom, kitchen office, or workshop system and not the main system of your life. So depending on your goals, there may be a subwoofer in your future. If that is true, then the AVR solution is probably the best solution for you.

I have a pair in a smaller room and this information makes sense. A subwoofer is required but I use a crossover at 80 Hz. I usually listen at moderate volumes however.

Demo'd the Rotel RA-12 Integrated Amp at a high end audio store today. It powered some B&W 685's which sounded nice to me. I am thinking about going with this unit since it seems to have everything I need (DAC, Phono, Digital Inputs, USB..) Anyone think this would be a good match with my CM5s?